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Biomedical subjects

M Cojocaru

Publications and source records attributed to M Cojocaru.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Anticardiolipin antibodies, recurrent stroke and vascular events: a prospective study on 210 patients.

The presence of anticadiolipin antibodies (aCL) has been associated with vascular occlusive events. However, the role of aCL in predicting ischemic events, particularly ischemic stroke, is controversial. In order to determine if aCL is either associated with thrombotic disease or with an increased risk of recurrent stroke or thrombotic events, we performed a prospective study on a cohort of Romanian patients with stroke that were tested for aCL. We studied the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the two subgroups (aCL positive or aCL negative) considering the age of patients and the medical evolution in the first 12 months after the index stroke. Globally, neither the antecedents of thrombotic events or abortions, nor the clinical or biological profile or the recurrence of vascular events showed any significant difference between the group with or without aCL. Only in two patients the criteria for antiphospholipid syndrome were fulfilled. In 37% of cases, there was a variability of aCL positive titers at 8 weeks after the index event. This raised the necessity to isolate a subpopulation with higher risk of ischemia in the presence of aCL, and the need of more specific subtypes of antiphospholipid antibodies as a marker of thrombophilia.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

High prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with asymptomatic hepatitis C virus infection associated acute ischemic stroke.

Anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) is considered to be one of the contributory factors in the development of acute ischemic stroke. Chronic hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) and the antiphospholipid syndrome are two conditions that have increased the risk of stroke. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with asymptomatic chronic hepatitis C virus infection-related acute ischemic stroke. Fifty eight patients (39 women, 19 men), mean age 62 years (range 46-77 years) with acute ischemic stroke and asymptomatic chronic hepatitis C virus infection were studied; all were positive for anti-HCV antibodies. A control group of 36 patients (20 women, 16 men), mean age 58 years (range 44-75 years) with ischemic stroke without HCV were also tested. Both anti-HCV antibodies and IgG aCL antibodies were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The significantly higher levels of IgG aCL antibodies were detected in serum samples of 27/58 (46%) patients with acute ischemic stroke and asymptomatic chronic hepatitis C virus infection. The control group had much lower levels of IgG aCL antibodies in 2/36 (5%) patients. This study clearly shows a high prevalence of IgG aCL antibodies in the serum of patients with acute ischemic stroke and HCV. Mean levels of serum IgG aCL antibodies were significantly higher among the HCV patients with acute ischemic stroke than the patients with acute ischemic stroke without HCV (94.8+/-7.6 GPL U/mL as compared to 27.2+/-3.2 GPL U/mL), p<0.001. We showed that a number of chronic hepatitis C virus infection-related ischemic strokes is associated with the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies, a condition predisposing to coagulopathy. These results suggest that anticardiolipin antibodies associated with HCV may be an important marker for acute ischemic stroke. The higher prevalence and titre of IgG aCL antibodies in patients with HCV suggests that these humoral factors might be involved in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Cerebral ischemic attack secondary to hepatitis C virus infection.

Hepatitis virus C (HCV) is worldwide a health problem, which may lead to serious complications. The aim of this study was to correlate the onset of the cerebral ischemic attack accompanied by mixed cryoglobulinemia, with the chronic hepatitis C virus infection. These studies were carried out in 12 patients with serologic/virusologic confirmed chronic HCV infection associated with ischemic stroke. Ischemic stroke occurred in equal proportion in women and men. The patients did not know of HCV infection diagnosis at that moment. All patients had type II mixed monoclonal cryoglobulinemia, hypergammaglobulinemia with polyclonal IgG and monoclonal IgM, blood hyperviscosity, high level of cryocrit, positive rheumatoid factor, normal levels of serum transaminases, negative serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag), negative anti HBc antibodies, positive HCV antibodies, positive serum RNA HCV, decreased serum C3 and C4 levels, antinuclear antibodies-false positive. Immunological tests for autoantibodies, namely, anti-Sm antibody, anti-RNP antibody, anti-SS-A and -B antibodies, and anti-Scl antibody were not detectable due to high level serum cryoglobulin. Cryoglobulin was washed several times with an isotonic chloride solution for purification, then subject to immunological analyses. The purified cryoglobulin contained monoclonal IgM-kappa, polyclonal IgG. Cryoglobulinemia is a risk factor for ischemic stroke, as it causes arterial thrombosis.

Brain Ischemia↗
PubMed2004

Lipid peroxidation and catalase in diabetes mellitus with and without ischemic stroke.

Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) increased in diabetic patients and oxidative damage may contribute to the development of diabetic complications. Malondialdehyde is known as marker of the oxidative damage. Catalase is one of antioxidative factors involved in elimination of ROS In this study, the plasma level of lipid peroxides and plasma catalase activity in 315 patients with diabetes mellitus were assayed. We also included 114 non-diabetic healthy controls whose age, sex were matched to the diabetic patients. The plasma levels of lipid peroxides (LPO) were determined by spectrophotometric method modified by Satoh and Yagi. Lipid peroxidation was estimated by the plasma level of malondialdehyde (MDA). In controls mean value of plasma lipid peroxides was 1.329 +/- 0.118 nmol/ml. In diabetic patients with ischemic stroke MDA level was 2.919 +/- 0.182 nmol/l; p<0.001, and in patients without ischemic stroke the MDA level was 2.329 +/- 0.149 nmol/l; p<0.05; between diabetic patients with ischemic stroke and patients without ischemic stroke p<0.01. The high level of lipid peroxides might induce a self-maintained chronic process which, in time, might lead to the aggravation of the macro- and microangiopathy in diabetes. The plasma levels of catalase were determined by Goth's spectrophotometric method. In 114 healthy persons the mean value of plasma catalase (CAT) activity was 115.3 +/- 14.5 MU/l with less plasma catalase for females (108.7 +/- 12.4 MU/l) than for males (118.9 +/- 16.6 MU/l). Mean value of plasma CAT was (102.4 +/- 12.7 MU/l in patients with ischemic stroke, p<0.001 and 116.3 +/- 18.7 MU/l in patients without ischemic stroke, p<0.05); between diabetic patients with ischemic stroke and patients without ischemic stroke p<0.01. Our results revealed a decrease in plasma CAT activity in patients with diabetes mellitus and ischemic stroke as compared to patients with diabetes mellitus without ischemic stroke. We can conclude that in diabetic patients the decrease in plasma CAT activity is the consequence of oxidative modifications. These results suggest that diabetic patients have significantly increased oxidative damage.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Clinical relevance of antikeratin antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis and symmetric polyarthritis associated with hepatitis C infection.

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been linked to extrahepatic autoimmune phenomena. In addition a variety of autoantibodies were found in patients with HCV. This study was performed to assesss the clinical relevance of antikeratin antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in patients with symmetric polyarthritis associated with hepatitis C infection. Serum antikeratin antibodies were evaluated in 3 different groups of patients; all were rheumatoid factor (RF) seropositive: Group 1: 31 patients with HCV associated symmetric polyarthralgia or arthritis. Group 2: 28 patients with RA (modified ACR criteria for probable RA). Group 3: 16 patients with autoimmune disorders other than RA. Seventeen healthy individuals matched for age and sex served as controls. In our study, 75 patients who were rheumatoid factor positive (measured by ELISA, the cutoff was established to 20 U/mL) were tested for antikeratin antibodies using an indirect immunofluorescence technique with 1:10 serum dilution. Antikeratin antibodies were detected in 18/28 (64%) patients with true RA and only 3/31 (9%) patients with HCV-related arthritis (p < 0.0001). Antikeratin antibodies were observed in 3/16 (18%) patients of group 3 (p < 0.05). Antikeratin antibodies were not found in the sera of the healthy controls.

Arthritis↗
PubMed2003

Sex pheromone of the vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus in Israel: occurrence of a second component in a mass-reared population.

Two pheromonal components were detected in airborne collections from the vine mealybug Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) mass-reared on potato sprouts. The compounds were identified as (S)-lavandulyl senecioate (I) and (S)-lavandulyl isovalerate (II) by GC and GC-MS by comparison with synthetic standards. Chiral GC analysis on a cyclodextrin column established their chirality. Compound I was identified recently as the sex pheromone of P. ficus in California. The attraction of vine mealybug males to both components I and II was demonstrated in a Petri dish bioassay and in a flight assay in the rearing chamber. Indoors, both compounds displayed a similar level of attractiveness to the mass-reared males. However, trials in a vineyard indicated that feral males were attracted only to compound I. Reanalysis of the airborne pheromone indicated that laboratory first generation daughters of females that were collected in the vineyard produce only (S)-lavandulyl senecioate (I). The relative amount of (S)-lavandulyl isovalerate (II) increased gradually in each subsequent generation of P. ficus reared on potatoes. These findings indicate that feral P. ficus mealybugs produce and respond only to (S)-lavandulyl senecioate (I), whereas mealybugs that were reared in the laboratory on potato sprouts produce and respond to both (S)-lavandulyl senecioate (I) and (S)-lavandulyl isovalerate (II).

Alkenes↗
PubMed2003

Study of anti-cardiolipin and anti-beta2-glycoprotein I antibodies in patients with ischemic stroke.

The study of IgG and IgM anti-cardiolipin antibodies (IgG/IgM aCL) is now well accepted and is routinely used in the risk assessment of various conditions associated with thrombosis. The aim of the study was to define whether the investigation of aCL is sufficient by itself to evaluate a risk of ischemic stroke. Frequency of aCL and anti-beta2-glycoprotein I (beta2-GPI) antibodies was prospectively investigated in 96 patients with ischemic stroke and in 119 controls by ELISA. In ischemic stroke patients IgG aCL were found in 36%, the IgM-aCL were found in 58%, the IgG-IgM-aCL were found in 43%. The levels of both antibodies were higher in patients with ischemic stroke than in controls (p < 0.01). In controls, IgM-aCL were positive in 2% and IgG-aCL antibodies were negative. IgG-beta-GPI Abs were found in ischemic patients in 19% and IgM-beta2-GPI Abs in 37%. The IgG-IgM-anti-beta2-GPI Abs were found in 24% patients. They were negative in controls. There was a correlation between levels of aCL and anti-beta2-GPI Abs for both isotypes (r = 0.728) but not between IgG- and IgM-beta2-GPI Abs. IgG-aCL test was more sensitive for ischemic stroke than the IgG-beta2-GPI Abs test (71.4%, respectively 65.7%) but less specific (66.8%, respectively 88.6%). The sensitivity of anti-beta2-GPI Abs for ischemic stroke was increased when both isotypes were tested. These results showed that aCL and anti-beta2-GPI Abs could be pathogenetically important for ischemic stroke and that anti-beta2-GPI Abs testing might contribute to a better evaluation of ischemic stroke.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

IgG anti-cardiolipin antibodies-markers of inflammation in diabetic patients with ischemic stroke.

Some researchers investigated the role of anticardiolipin antibodies in the pathogenesis of the ischemic stroke. The objective of the study was to evaluate the relationship between the prevalence of the IgG anti-cardiolipin antibodies (IgG aCL) and ischemic stroke in patients with diabetes mellitus. IgG aCL were prospectively investigated in 87 diabetic patients with ischemic stroke (mean age 78.5 years) and in 68 diabetic patients without ischemic stroke (mean age 72.8 years). IgG aCL were determined by ELISA. Twenty-three out of 87 diabetic patients without ischemic stroke had IgG aCL and 25 out of 68 diabetic patients without stroke had IgG aCL. The IgG aCL titer did not differ significantly between patients with ischemic stroke and those without stroke (p>0.05). Our data showed that IgG aCL are not a risk factor for ischemic stroke in diabetic patients. Both patients with diabetes and those with diabetes and ischemic stroke had serum IgG aCL. IgG aCL indicate inflammatory conditions in these pathologies.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Investigation of TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8 and of procalcitonin in patients with neurologic complications in sepsis.

Some mediators of inflammation are associated with sepsis, involving nervous system. Proinflammatory cytokines, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-8, and procalcitonin (PCT), proinflammatory protein, were investigated in patients with neurologic complications in sepsis. TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8, and PCT were prospectively investigated in 62 patients with neurologic complications in sepsis. TNF-alpha and IL-6 were studied both in serum as in the CSF, IL-8 and PCT were studied only in serum. TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-8 were studied by ELISA (R & D Systems), and the PCT by immunoluminometric assay (BRAHMS). Mean value of TNF-alpha in serum was 578+/-214 pg/ml, and in CSF was 458+/-167 pg/ml (p<0.01). Mean value of IL-6 in serum was 749+/-213 pg/ml, and in CSF was 617.5+/-182 pg/ml (p<0.01). Mean value of IL-8 in serum was 332+/-196 pg/ml (p<0.01). Mean value of PCT in serum was 80+/-16 ng/ml (p<0.01). The investigated parameters do not permit the identifying of cases with neurologic complications. The increased correlation coefficient between cytokines in serum and in CSF suggests the damage of the blood-brain barrier. The raise of PCT in serum, induced by TNF-alpha and IL-6, is an argument of the severity of sepsis.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Study of some markers of inflammation in atherothrombotic pathogenesis of acute ischemic stroke.

Recent researches focused on the study of the role of the inflammation in the atherothrombotic pathogenesis of the acute cerebral ischemia. The aim of the study was to identify some acute phase proteins with possible role in the pathogenesis of the ischemic stroke. Some acute phase proteins were prospectively investigated by standard methods in sera of 78 patients with ischemic stroke in the first admission day. There were two groups according to neurological deficit one month after the ischemic stroke: good outcome and poor outcome. In the second group mean value of C-reactive protein (CRP) was 0.122 +/- 0.06 g/l (p < 0.01), mean value of C3 was 2.61 +/- 0.36 g/l (p < 0.01), mean value of C4 was 0.73 +/- 0.07 g/l (p < 0.05), mean value of alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) was 4.9 +/- 0.46 g/l (p < 0.01), mean value of alpha 1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) was 0.33 +/- 0.04 g/l (p < 0.01), mean value of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGA) was 1.12 +/- 0.15 g/l, (p < 0.05), mean value of fibrinogen was 2.6 +/- 0.22 g/l (p < 0.01), mean value of haptoglobin was 2.8 +/- 0.33 g/l, (p < 0.05), mean value of transferrin was 2.8 +/- 0.26 g/l (p < 0.05), mean value of ferritin was 238 +/- 22.42 microg/l (p < 0.001), mean value of fibronectin was 2.14 +/- 0.17 g/l (p < 0.05), mean value of ceruloplasmin was 1.23 +/- 0.24 g/l (p < 0.01). High significant values of ferritine and significant values of CRP, C3, AAT, ACT and fibrinogen were observed in patients with poor outcome. The presented data suggest that the studied markers are useful to appreciate the role of the inflammatory reaction in the atherothrombotic pathogenesis of the ischemic stroke.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1993

Cardiac conduction abnormalities during carbamazepine therapy for neuralgia following Guillain-Barré syndrome.

A 61-year-old man without previous medical history was admitted for Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Carbamazepine was prescribed on day 72 for dysesthesia occurring at the time of recovery. Subsequently, severe cardiac conduction disturbances (asystole, atrioventricular block) were observed and a permanent pacemaker had to be inserted. The possible relationship between carbamazepine therapy and cardiac side effects is discussed in this condition, as GBS itself is often complicated by cardiac arrhythmias.

Carbamazepine↗
PubMed1990

Synthesis of 19-nor-aldosterone, 18-hydroxy-19-nor-corticosterone and 18,19-dihydroxycorticosterone in the human aldosterone-producing adenoma.

The recently synthesized 18-C-steroid derivative, 19-nor-aldosterone(19-nor- aldo) and 18-hydroxy-19-nor-corticosterone(18-OH-19-nor-corticosterone) possess mineralocoroticoid and hypertensinogenic activity. They and an additional newly synthesized steriod, 18,19-dihydroxycorticosterone[18,19(OH)2-corticosterone], may play a role in the etiology and pathogenesis of disorders thought to be caused by steroids with mineralocorticoid and hypertensionogenic properties. In this study we provide evidence that 19-nor-aldo, 18-OH-19-nor-corticosterone and 18,19(OH)2-corticosterone are produced in vitro by aldosterone-producing adrenal adenomas and adenomas and adenoma of Cushing's syndrome. "silent" adrenal adenomas and the adjacent adrenal tissue. Measurable amounts of these steroids were found in the incubation fluids of adrenal tissues using specific RIAs performed after a sequence of HPLC systems. The rates of production of the three steroids were high in the aldosterone-producing adrenal adenomas and in adrenal hyperplasia compared with in either Cushing's adenoma or "silent" adenoma.

18-Hydroxycorticosterone↗
PubMed1990

Synthesis of 4,19-disubstituted derivatives of DOC. Radioreceptor assay of some corticosteroid derivatives in human mononuclear leukocytes.

Several new 4,19-substituted steroids and previously synthesized corticosteroids were assayed for affinity to type 1 receptors in human mononuclear leukocytes. 11 beta,19-epoxy-4,21-dihydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione (2) was hydrogenated with Pd-C to yield a mixture of all four dihydro derivatives 5, accompanied by 4,21-diacetoxy-11 beta,19-epoxy-3-hydroxypregnan-20-one (6) and 21-acetoxy-11 beta,19-epoxy-4-hydroxypregnane-3,20-dione (7). With hot acetic + p-toluenesulfonic acid 5 underwent rearrangement to 21-acetoxy-11 beta,19-epoxypregn-5-ene-4,20-dione (8) Pd-C hydrogenation of 3,21-diacetoxy-5 beta,19-cyclopregna-2,9(11)-diene-4,20-dione (10) gave 3,21-diacetoxy-5 beta,19-cyclopregn-5-ene-4,20-dione (11) and the 9,11-dihydro derivative of the latter. Treatment of 10 with warm HCl furnished 19-chloro-4,21-dihydroxypregna-4,9(11)-diene-3,20-dione (13). Pd-C hydrogenation of its diacetate 14 afforded the 4,5-dihydro derivative 18, 19-chloro-21-acetoxypregn-9(11)-en-20-one (15), its 4-acetoxy derivative 16 and the 3,4-diacetoxy derivative 17. When tested in a radioreceptor assay in human mononuclear leukocytes the synthesized compounds showed only low relative binding affinities (RBA) to type 1 receptor, the highest being 0.72% for 13 (aldosterone = 100%). For comparison, other RBA in this system were: 19-noraldosterone, 20%; 18-deoxyaldosterone, 5.8%; 18-deoxy-19-noraldosterone, 4.7%; 18,21-anhydroaldosterone, 0.37%; 17-isoaldosterone, 7.6% and apoaldosterone, 4.3%

Aldosterone↗
PubMed1989

Bound amino acids in uremic sera: search for peptidic middle molecules by preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and high performance liquid chromatography.

The samples of normal and uremic sera were ultrafiltered, separated on SEP-PAK C18 cartridges and subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The serum material extracted from the slab gel was purified from SDS and further fractionated by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The obtained fractions were examined by amino acid analysis and mass spectrometry. An increased number of moderately polar fractions containing bound amino acids was found in sera of uremic patients on hemodialysis. Two most prominent uremic fractions corresponded to N-benzoylglycine (hippuric acid) (fraction I, k' = 9,4) and phenylacetylglutamine (fraction II, k' = 9,7). Increased amounts of bound glutamine, glycine, serine, leucine, asparagine, alanine, valine, phenylalanine were found in other moderately polar uremic fractions. These fractions (k' range from 12.1 to 13.2) contained no free amino acids, nor any other known small uremic serum compounds; they were considered as peptide 'middle molecules' (MM) of a molecular mass smaller than 1700.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1989

18,21-Anhydroaldosterone and derivatives.

18,21-Anhydroaldosterone 8, 18,21-anhydro-19-noraldosterone 9, and 3 alpha, 5 beta-tetrahydro-18,21-anhydro-19-noraldosterone 13, which may be present in acid-processed urine, were prepared by cleaving their 20-ketal derivatives 2, 3, and 12 with hot mineral acid. Compounds 8 and 9 were also made by direct dehydration of aldosterone 5 and 19-noraldosterone 10 in good yield. The reverse ring opening of 8 to 5 could be carried out in moderate yield with an acetic acid-acetic anhydride-perchloric acid mixture, while an analogous ring opening of 9 gave only a poor yield of 10.

Aldosterone↗